I read Night Boat to Freedom by Margot Theis Raven for the first time in my children's literature class. I asked the professor if I could borrow the book, because I just had to add this to my blog! What a great book! Christmas John is the main character. He was born into slavery and raised by his Granny Judith. Granny Judith had been taken from Africa and brought into slavery in the United States. She had been tricked by a red cloth, and for her the pretty color of red, now had turned the sad color of slavery. Granny has Christmas John help people escape out of slavery. When he returns she asks him what color freedom was tonight. She is asking what color they were wearing when they became free. She adds that color to a quilt. She tells Christmas John that when there are only two spots left on the quilt, that's when they are going to escape to freedom. Eventually, Christmas John helps more and more people become free until there are only two spots left on the quilt. Now it is time for Granny Judith and Christmas John to become free. Finally they escape and become free. Its a beautiful story. I loved it. It was so inspirational.
Genre: historical non fiction
Theme/Skills: Students will learn about freeing the slaves and the underground railroad. Understanding characters.
Grade Level: 3-6
Pre-reading activity: Teacher should show the map of the free states and the slave states. Students should have a map of the United States at this time period, and color in the slave states red and the free states blue.
Post-reading activity: Small group discussion: How did you feel about Christmas John? About Granny Judith? Teacher should direct conversation and see where students take it. How do you think Christmas John felt when he was finally free? How do you think Granny Judith felt when she was finally free? What else do you think about the book?
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